2. misc-audio
  3. 193280-178346

What do the statistics say about the age of Audiophiles and the replacement rate?

I'm unable to verify this so I'd like some guidance.  I have a family member who is an authorized dealer of some really nice product lines (ARC, Magnepan, Sonus, Bryston).   

He won't confirm or deny my hunch, but at his shop I see mostly older white, affluent men. I see very few middle age men and no men in their 20s.  I don't keep all shop hours, but I do spend about 15 hrs./wk. there.  My relative won't show me his sales demographic but I can see with my own eyes.

So my question is this:  Is there an equivalent replacement stream of new blood entering the Audiophile world or not? Do you have statistical proof? 

If the universe of Audiophiles (supposedly 20,000 in the lower 48) is indeed shrinking where does that leave the manufacturers and dealers? 

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retiredaudioguy
28 posts
 

And, do you know any female audiophiles?

I was lucky (and then unlucky) as my late wife had hearing that was probably better than mine, and was all in on great sound.  When I was trying to decide, in 2008, between the Esoteric X-03SE and the X-05-SE she told me not to be dumb, we can afford the 03 and it sounds so much better.  She was killed in 2009.  I am happily remarried; my current wife encourages my hobby, and is fine with our living room being the music room, so all is OK there.  Zero WAF issues.

 

retiredaudioguy
28 posts
 

And my daughter has a good ear and a good system.  VTL 85, Audio Physic Virgos, streaming and digital mainly and my old VPI TT. 

She is a sound designer and editor by profession, when she cannot get an acting gig.

kerrybh
196 posts
 

my lady friend is about 12 years younger than me and when we got together a few years ago, she thought Bose was high end. Because of her age, her taste in music was 80s and early 90s, which is to say she had no taste at all. Well, that has improved and we have spent many hours listening to my system, and attend some shows.

So, for Christmas I set her up with a little system, some pretty nice T + A speakers and a bluesound powernode. She is really enjoying her system and it sounds really good in her space. She’s thinking about going to the southwest Audio Fest with me.

That will undoubtedly spark a case of upgraditis and I will have created a monster

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